Being a designer unfortunately means long hours at times. We all know the situation, that brief which you were supposed to have a few weeks to work on suddenly gets turned upside when the client announces they need it right now. Preferably yesterday…

Although there’s no denying this is stressful and tiring can we find better ways of managing our minds and sleep patterns to cope? Well, new research revealed this weeks suggests yes.

According to news in the BBC, the age old eight-hour sleep saying could well be a myth as scientists have discovered we apparently sleep in a varying four cycles; the first being a relaxed state, the second slightly deeper sleep where we may feel awake, the third and fourth being the deepest. After the fourth we go back to second state ‘dream sleep’. Perhaps this ‘dream’ state could be extended to another part of the day where we should try to focus our thoughts and ideas.

Whatever your thoughts are on how much sleep we need it could be considered vitally important that every designer has a small amount of downtime a day – separate from design and definitely away from being glued to a Mac screen. Time to digest the days events, think about the plan for tomorrow and above all revive your creative juices.

So the next time you have a tight deadline, think of the reward of hitting it on time, to the best of your ability but remember you need to recharge your creativity every now and then.

If you are looking for unique projects delivered on time, brief the Exchange now!

*Image courtesy of echesketch.com

Paper Boat Creative

‘The physical form of language is a record of collective memory’.

Caspar Lam and YuJune Park make up Synoptic Office and have a clear passion for experimental, innovative typography. Their collective input for latest project ‘Alphabet Typography’ shows keen dedication to the physicality of graphic design and offers a rather unique, elegant outcome.

The height of each letter is determined by how often the letter is used, mapping the flow of the the English language. Each letter sits in a 6×6 inch square allowing any combination of letters to run seamlessly both vertically and horizontally. Elegant, sophisticated but above all insanely cool.

Synoptic Office’s portfolio is diverse and offers a variety of mesmerising concepts. For more information check the following link.

Are you looking for elegant and visually appealing designs? Submit a brief now!

Paper Boat Creative

Adobe has recently announced its latest product offering; the Creative Cloud.To be released with the launch of CS6, could the Creative Cloud be an affordable solution for the creative market?

For £38 a month Adobe are offering creatives access to the traditional desktop CS6 Master Collection and Lightroom 4 offering a new way to spread the cost of updating your software. For the price you get access to both Mac and Windows installation files, as well as two user licenses as standard. Not bad at all.

In addition for your money you also get access to all of Adobe’s Touch apps including Photoshop for iPad and a number of other publishing tools.

Following in the footsteps of a Dropbox style online server, subscribers get 20GB individual cloud storing meaning you can sync from any of your devices with ease and have your files there and waiting when you need them (handy for pitches and sharing files with other team members). Updates and upgrades are fully included so that the instant Adobe releases new versions and updates you’ll have instant access.

Another new feature is the ability to create brochures and set up website hosting using ‘Business Catalyst’ and ‘Digital Publishing Suite Single Edition’ meaning clients can publish directly to the app store; all of which creating new opportunities for creatives.

Dates are yet to be released but it should be in the not too distant future – definitely one to watch out for.

For more info you can click the following  link.

If you are looking for unique designs, brief the Exchange now!

*Image courtesy of Adobe.

Paper Boat Creative

The radical redesign solution of Facebook’s home page, ‘Facebook Timeline’, has been around for several months now. Time has passed for the users to acclimatise and the hype (or otherwise) of a new addition to a social media giant has died down. In addition the opportunity for Facebook to update any compatibility issues and listen to it’s fan base has been apparent. However, the question is, in terms of design and functionality, does it work?

For me I have to still say no. Facebook Timeline changes the default look of your profile from a list into a complete summary of your entire life since ‘birth’. Now including photos, video and locations you have visited it is easy to navigate through a persons profile with supposed ease; two columns representing the passage of time.

Image courtesy of http://reface.me/

Whilst it’s ability to work is open to personal debate, from a design perspective I find the layout beyond the hero image obtrusive and aesthetically unappealing. Facebook have had several months trial run of a working format and yet still retain clumpy, unimaginative solutions to information design. The columns functionality is questionable and criticisms against the Timeline requesting users ‘complete their profile’ could be seen as an attempt to surface personal information previously unknown to unsuspecting users. With the amount of information Timeline requests it feels as if we are more than ever the product, not the customer.

I feel an opportunity for a ground-breaking piece of information design is there for the taking. What are your thoughts?

If you are looking for the right social media strategy to reach your target audience, brief the Exchange now!

Paper Boat Creative

With its swaying, Latin sounds and voice over by Bebo Valdes and sensual moods by Tito Puente, amongst other musical talents, the animation doesn’t fall short in its portrayal of seductive love scenes either.  An adult animation treat, Javier Mariscal Errando will be worthy of rave reviews. 

The renowned Spanish artist is not short of credits for his multidisciplinary contributions to the art world.  Perhaps one of his most recognized successes on an international platform was Cobi, the mascot chosen for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.  The mascot which stimulated controversy for its unconventional style has proven to be the most profitable of the modern Games.  The figure was later developed into an animated series called The Cobi Troupe.

Let’s hope that Chico and Rita sets a precedence for  adult animation feature films and sparks an appetite amongst the general public for story telling through the talents of illustrators… inciting further collaborations of multi-media.

If you are looking for unique animation artwork, brief the Exchange now!

Paper Boat Creative

Whatever you experienced, there is no match to what a whole wave of Japanese mothers are creating for their kids nowadays.  They’ll open their lunch box to a new food character everyday.  Pairs of eyes on sushi staring back at them.  Omelettes crafted so well that it looks exactly like Pikachu.  Radish and carrot sculpted to look like elaborate shoes.  We’ve spotted Hello Kitty rice and chicken nuggets shaped like Totoro.  Totally kawaii!

There is an almost cult-like dedication of a daily blog of lunch box layouts the moms create for their kids.   You will find a whole army of bento characters and worlds online. 

Inspiring to look at and definitely exciting to eat, we look forward to what these moms will be posting online tomorrow.

In the mean time we may have a play with our own food to see what worlds we can create on our plate.  Ita daki mas (bon appétit).

 Paper Boat Creative

Following on from “You can do it” – here’s some tips on Creative Writing. 

The problem is that in a lot of cases people have difficulty with getting started. Other people may initially be very enthusiastic about an idea but then find it harder to get it finished. In each case there are different exercises that can be done and in this article we will look at ways to get started, keep going and how to ensure you get the best possible work done.

Getting Started

This is often the hardest part. Some people set targets for themselves such as 500 words by a certain time. I personally find that a bit constricting as this means you focus more on the quantity as opposed to the quality. If you have a word limit then obviously you need to stick to it. However we will look at editing down later.

What I find works better is to work for a certain amount of time. Some people may say they want to write but have a part time or a full time job so there is no additional time for writing. This is an excuse. There is always time to write.

Whether you are writing a poem, a novel or an article it is up to you to find the time. If it means you get up earlier in the day or sleep a little later at night then so be it. The crucial thing is to make the effort. Another problem is generating ideas. This is especially true if you are writing a piece of fiction. A simple way of doing this is with a spider diagram. Get a blank sheet of paper and draw a circle, putting a word in the middle that symbolises what you are trying to do. For example if you wanted to write a sitcom you would then write sitcom.

Once you have put that word in the middle you then write words that you associate with that phrase. For example you could put in family, slapstick, romantic tension, sharing a house and so forth. If you write something that you think is not relevant write it anyway. It is all part of the process.

It is also important to be open minded. Try to have a small notepad and a cheap pen with you at all times. This is better than a fancy notebook as you will feel less pressure to write something in it. At this point it is about getting ideas down and getting the mind thinking.

Work In Progress

How you work is up to you. However the best way to do it is to have a set routine. While this may seem at odds with the idea of the eccentric creative genius at work it is a good way to ensure that you stay focused.

Strange as it sounds you should also know when to time your breaks. The problem with creative work is that it can be easy to get carried away. You may start writing and then realise you have missed a couple of meals and it is now time for bed. A consistent routine will help avoid this and stop you from burning out.

During this time it is best to not be too self critical. Some people will start working and have a nagging fear in their heads. Try not to worry at this point whether something is good enough or not. At this stage it is more constructive to work hard and get a draft down. After that you can then get on to the next part which is getting feedback and responding to feedback.

After The Work Is Done- Feedback And Editing

The type of feedback you get will depend on who you are writing for and where you are sending it to. For example if you are writing short stories you should look for forums where you can post them and get feedback.

People are often nervous about posting stories and so forth on the internet for fear of people stealing their ideas. There are various ways to copyright ideas. One of the simplest is to print it out, attach a form with the date on it and have it signed by an independent witness. You should then mail it to yourself via recorded delivery with a receipt that you have proof of postage. Ensure it is taped down and do not open it as this will ensure there is no evidence of tampering.

If you are writing for a website then they should have a support forum or an email that you can contact if you have any problems. Some will have specific keywords that they will want included. Always double check any special instructions as you do not want your work rejected!

With creative projects it is more difficult as everyone has different views on what constitutes a good or bad story. With poetry this is increasingly difficult as this often deals with personal issues and emotions, making it harder for someone to critique it without someone taking it personally.

Ultimately it is up to you when looking at advice from somebody else to see if you agree with it or not. The best people will look at your work, look at what you are trying to achieve with your work and try to offer advice that is constructive and appropriate.

If you do not have time to seek out advice or you are working on a personal project then it is possible to do this yourself. In some creative writing exercise books this is referred to as “the editor’s eye”.

The simplest way to do this is to leave your work and not look at it for a few days. This then means you are not in the moment and can look at it from a more objective viewpoint.

Another way to achieve this is by reading your work aloud. This is best done at home or somewhere quiet! Reading aloud is often effective because you then realise what someone will experience if they read it for themselves. It helps to remove any words that sound awkward and helps you to ensure that you can engage with the reader.

A Final Piece Of Advice- Editing Down

I mentioned earlier that we would look at editing down work. Sometimes people love their creative work so much that they write a lot. This can result in overly descriptive passages, comedy sketches that are three pages too long and so forth.

My screenwriting tutor had a simple way to picture what is and is not necessary “Imagine each word costs a pound.”

I hope this advice helps you. Remember, if you are prepared to put the work in then you will get the reward for your effort.

Good luck! 

In some respects I was born lucky. My Dad was self employed and ran a business from a store opposite our house. This meant that every day I saw how he operated his business and from time to time I helped out. This helped pave the way for working on a self- employed basis and developing the self discipline needed to work without having a boss over your shoulder.

The problem with writing is that people often think that there is some kind of mystique behind it. They feel that only deeply flawed individuals on a bottle of whisky a day or adventurous poets who have travelled the world are capable of doing this epic feat on a regular basis.

Yes it is possible to write great literature in this way. But the kind of day to day things that you can earn money from require you to learn how to write every day. This means that it is not about flashes of inspiration but getting yourself in the mood to write on a regular basis while at the same time not depriving your body of sunlight.

The demands of different clients will often mean inconsistent hours. Ideally you should have some kind of routine to help you cope with this. I find a break at the start of the day helps to relax the mind. You may be different and prefer to push hard the morning and take a longer break in the afternoon. There need to be times where you switch off during the day or you do risk burning out.

While this is important you should not procrastinate either. One way around this is you only go on social network sites at certain points in the day. This helps to ensure you are not tempted to keep checking back.

If there is one thing I have learned about writing is that the hardest part is often getting started. Once you get going the next hardest part is then stopping!

In a lot of respects it is like revising for an exam and the approach has to be similar. If you need to research a subject it is best to check more than a couple of websites to get the right background detail. Some people like having snacks near to hand or the television on while they are working while others feel the need to turn everything off and focus solely on the screen. Neither is especially right or wrong provided the work gets done!

The other aspect to remember is that it is up to you to chase things up. You should check websites every day. Always be on the lookout for opportunities and always follow up any work you do.  Be open minded as opportunities can come from the unlikeliest sources. For example I found one of my most regular clients on a comic book art forum. It is not always easy but if you are prepared to put the effort in the rewards are out there!

Robert Turner (also known as Will Turner) is a freelance copywriter and producer for Polycomical Studios. When he is not making freelance content for companies he produces the webcomic Reynard City and is a member of the UEA Headlights comedy society.

Perhaps the most famous face in the art world, the Mona Lisa has kept crowds from all corners of the world visiting the Musee du Louvre, Paris, since she first went on permanent public display.  Leonardo Davinci’s subject, Lisa Gherardini – wealthy Florence silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo’s wife – has been the intrigue of swarming voyeurists fascinated by her ambiguous smile; her expression described as enigmatic.

Considered the prototype of the renaissance portrait, La Gioconda has become a popular subject for caricature.   The internet is full of ideas of how the Mona Lisa would have been depicted by artists of our time.

Picasso

Matt Groening (The Simpsons)

Roy Lichtenstein

Andy Warhol Pop Art

The Prado in Madrid is now boasting to have unearthed a copy of the Mona Lisa by one of Davinci’s pupils, whom produced the work by his side.  Currently being restored to its former glory, fans of the beauty which was painted in 1503, will soon have more insight into her true appearance.  Having been discovered under black over paint, the fresher version of the captivating women can be seen with greater detail than the Mona Lisa in the Louvre which has several layers of old, cracked varnish.

The Guardian newspaper published an interactive comparative of both paintings on the 1^st of February 2012.

1. Capture the Identity of the Business

If you’re designing a logo for an organization, then you should already know exactly what they represent. Don’t forget this essential aspect of the design process.

2. Master the Art of Complex Simplicity

An elaborate design with detailed borders and a name that fades into an obscure background may be a wonderful work to view, but it won’t make your logo design easy to remember. Complex works eventually become indistinguishable from each another. Likewise, a logo that simply states the business name in a standard font is also unlikely to create an impression. When your logo is cluttered, it runs viewers away. A good logo is like a catchy tune, viewers should get the image stuck in their head. The best logo designers know how to add the appropriate amount of pizzazz to a simple idea. Amazing designs are also memorable designs.

3. Make Good Use of Your Color Palette

Color is the part of the logo that grabs a viewer’s attention first. A memorable logo only requires a few colors. Complementary colors are naturally appealing. Colors that are not complementary can still be effective within a logo design if they are used wisely and skillfully. When bright colors are used appropriately, they can heighten visibility and launch a logo into a viewer’s long term memory. Don’t just select colors that you happen to like.  Always remember to think carefully about which colors will create an accurate representation of the company.

4. Consider the Logo’s Purpose and Location

Always contemplate your logo’s purpose and location as you begin the design process. If your logo will be seen on a billboard, then take into consideration the time viewers will have to process the imagery and make a connection to the company you’re representing. You should be able to recognize roadside designs very quickly. Viewers cannot remember a convoluted logo in a short amount of time. If you are creating a logo design for small scale printing, then remember that your logo design should stand out without taking over.

5. Make the Name Stick

Businesses go to great lengths to protect their name and identity. Don’t forget how important a company’s name is when you create your design. Skilled designers love to get fancy with type. However, don’t fall into the trap of making a business name twist and turn all of over the logo. The name should be easy to read and remember.

Designers have an important job, don’t we? We create the branding that determines the very identity of virtually every kind of company. If you keep these five fundamental characteristics in mind, you will be on your way to creating an excellent logo design for your next client.

Brief your logo requirements now!

Kathleen